Patna: Attacking the JD(U) government for its failure to prevent stampede in the state capital last week that claimed lives of 33 people, the BJP today asked the ruling party to elect a new chief minister in place of Jitan Ram Manjhi or seek fresh polls so that a new government could restore law and order situation in Bihar.

“Manjhi is an incompetent chief minister who does not have mandate to rule nor bureaucracy gives him respect or listens to him and abide by his orders....under the circumstances, the JD(U) should either elect a new chief minister or go for assembly polls so that a new government gets the mandate to restore law and order situation,” senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters here.

Claiming that Bihar was rapidly heading towards anarchy under Manjhi's dispensation, he expressed fear that the state and its people will have to suffer more in the wake of deteriorating law and order situation if he (Manjhi) continued in office for another year.

Sushil Modi also lashed out at the Chief Minister for taking shelter behind his mahadalit background whenever he was subjected to criticism for failures of his government and said that invoking his background will not cover up his mistakes as the chief minister for which he must be held accountable.

Describing the stampede tragedy as ‘criminal negligence' by top Patna district officials, he demanded registration of case on culpable murder charge (section 304 of IPC) against these officials and said that mere transfer of these officials were not sufficient punishment for dereliction of duty by them.

He also took potshot at Nitish Kumar for campaigning for “convicted” politician Om Prakash Chautala's party INLD in Haryana and alleged that the senior JD(U) leader has compromised his own high moral standard and propriety in public life by aligning with “tainted politicians”.

“Kumar has lost moral right to teach and preach others on morality and propriety in public life and zero tolerance for crime and corruption after deciding to campaign for Chautala's party which has come months after soliciting open support from another convicted leader - RJD supremo Lalu Prasad - for survival of his government in Bihar,” he said.